First published in the March 31 print issue of the Outlook Valley Sun.
“CODA,” the little movie that could, turned out to be worth the gamble for Apple TV+ as the crowd-pleasing dramedy won Best Picture at the 94th Academy Awards Sunday.
Starring La Cañada Flintridge resident Marlee Matlin, the coming-of-age tale about a hearing teenager conflicted between pursuing her love for music and helping her deaf family won all three categories it was nominated in — best picture, best adapted screenplay and best supporting actor — and upset “The Power of the Dog,” a Western drama directed by Jane Campion that was the odds-on favorite to claim the highest honor.
Thirty-five years after becoming the first deaf actor to win the award for her performance in “Children of a Lesser God,” Matlin made history again with “CODA,” an acronym for children of deaf adults, becoming the first film backed by a streaming company to win Best Picture.
Netflix has had seven films nominated for the honor, while Apple TV+ claimed the top prize in its first attempt.
“CODA,” which reportedly had a modest budget of $10 million, premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in January and Apple purchased the worldwide rights for the movie for $25 million, a record for the festival.
As a prominent member of the National Association of the Deaf, Matlin has worked for decades to encourage the entertainment industry to be more inclusive by hiring deaf people and telling their stories.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences made strides in representation Sunday not only with “CODA” winning three Oscars, but with host Amy Schumer and presenter Youn Yuh-Jung using sign language during the broadcast.
“This is really a big moment for the deaf community,” said Sian Heder, writer and director of “CODA,” after the ceremony. She adapted the screenplay from an original French-Belgian film released in 2014.
“It’s really a big moment for the disability community. Marlee Matlin won an Oscar 35 years ago and not that much has changed in Hollywood,” she said.
“So, I want to thank the academy tonight for making that change and I want to say to everyone in the deaf community and everyone in the disability community that there is a place for you here. Your stories are important, and we need to make room and this is one story and let this be the first of many, many films to come out of this beautiful community,” she added.
Matlin, 56, beamed with pride when her co-star Troy Kotsur, who played the father in the film, became the second deaf actor to win an Academy Award.
“Thirty-five years ago, I stood on that stage accepting Best Actress, being the first one who is deaf to receive that award. Fast forward to now, 35 years later, I’m not alone anymore,” Matlin said backstage. “I’m so proud [of] Troy, Sian and the producers [and] their incredible work. … It was 35 years, and nothing happened. Tonight, everyone, by honoring us, you are spreading the faith.”
